Holder for casket flower spray



Sept. 28, 1965 R. D. ERICKSON 3,208,701

HOLDER FOR GASKET FLOWER SPRAY Filed Nov. 20, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 44 j? 42 2a W 'M 1477'0/PNEK Sept. 28, 1965 R. D. ERlCKSON 3,208,701

HOLDER FOR CASKET FLOWER SPRAY Filed Nov. 20, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v VE/V ro/a lP/CH/I/PD D. EP/CASON United States Patent 3,208,701 HOLDER FOR CASKET FLOWER SPRAY Richard D. Erickson, 209 2nd St. NE., Mason City, Iowa Filed Nov. 20, 1963, S81. N0. 325,044 7 Claims. (CL 24827.8)

This invention relates to holders for flower sprays and more particularly to such holders designed especially for securely maintaining such a spray on a casket not only during the initial services, but also while the casket is being transported to the cemetery and throughout the final committal services.

It is generally customary for flower sprays to be placed on caskets during the services in a church or funeral parlor and to leave them there during transportation of the casket to the cemetery and for the final committal services. The graceful support of such flowerls on the casket during this period is highly desirable from the standpoint of maintaining a pleasing, orderly and dignified appearance in accordance with the decorum dictated by the solemnity of the occasion, but because the lightest jar or movement of the casket can easily dislodge the flowers, too frequently such sprays have slid off when the casket is handled by pallbearers or blown off in the wind at the cemetery, with some resulting disorder, confusion and particularly an undesirable imposition upon the sensitivity of the bereaved.

Various forms of spray holders have heretofore been proposed to overcome the problem described but they are for the most part relatively expensive and not generally considered as an expendable item. In addition, such holders are often cumbersome, bulky and unsightly as well as [conspicuous when use-d so as to detract from the appearance required for the occasion. Some such devices require various clamp means and other components which must be attached or secured to the casket and which tend to scratch and mar the surface thereof in such a way that they may offend the sensitive feelings of the bereaved and others, and which is wholly undesirable for several reasons as can be appreciated.

Accordingly, one of the important objects contemplated by this invention is the provision of an improved floral spray holder which can be easily, quickly and securely attached to a casket, and which will adequately support a flower spray whether the casket is stationary or being transported and whether it is indoors or outdoors.

Another object herein is to provide a floral holder of the above class that is small in size and light enough in weight that it can conveniently be carried in the hand or in a pocket during preparations for its use.

Still another object is to provide a holder for a casket floral spray that is so economical in manufacture that it can be left on the casket for all times.

Other objects include such a floral spray holder that will not be visible when used and will thus not detract from the beauty of the floral display; that is durable in structure and highly eflicient for its intended use; that will not mar or deface the surface finish of the casket; and which can be used equally well with either metal or cloth covered caskets.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein, or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

FIG.1 is a perspective view of a casket showing this invention applied thereto,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of this invention,

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the holder in FIG, 2,

FIG. 4 is a top view taken from the line 44 of FIG, 2,

FIGS. 5 and 6 are respective side and end elevational views of a modified form of this holder,

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 8 is a top view of the holder in FIG. 5,

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of another modified form of this holder,

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal section view taken on the line 1010 of FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 is a top view of the holder in FIG. 9,

FIGS. 12 and 13 are respective side and end elevational views of a further modified form of this holder,

FIG. 14 is a top view of the holder in FIG. 12,

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of still another variation of this holder,

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal section view taken on the line 1616 of FIG, 15, and

FIG. 17 is a top view of the holder in FIG. 15.

Referring to the drawings, a generally conventional form of a casket 10 as shown in FIG. 1 includes what is known .as the head panel 12 and the foot panel 14. Both panels are generally hingedly secured to the main casket portion 16 to permit of their being raised to an open position and if the casket is to be opened during the funeral service at a funeral parlor, church or the like, only the head panel is opened and the foot panel re mains in closed position .as is well-known and understood. By virtue of such casket construction, the adjacent edges of panels 12 and 14 as indicated at 18 define a narrow spacing or slot that extends across the top of the casket 10 for the necessary clearance in movement of panel 12. Such spacing or slot 18, though rela tively small in all caskets, will nevertheless vary sightly with caskets from different manufacturers, and the primary objective of this invention involves the frictional engagement in slot 18 between panels 12 and 14 of an upright floral spray holder, designated generally by the numeral 20 in FIG. 1, which is so made that it can be accommodated to different caskets which may vary in details as to the width of slot 18.

Several forms of holders will readily suggest themselves to the accomplishment of this objective and accordingly I have illustrated different modifications which all contain an identity of principal component parts, but which are not intended to be limited thereto as other modifications may be easily devised from the disclosure herein without departing from the principles set forth.

The preferred embodiment for holder 20 is shown in FIGS. 24 and includes a base support in the form of a generally resilient wide flat blade-like member 22 having a top edge 24 and a bottom edge which is perferably beveled as at 26, and an upstanding preferably pronglike floral spray holder 28 secured to or integral with the top edge 24 of support 22. Base 22 is inserted downwardly into slot 18 preferably when panel 12 is closed and is accordingly securely wedge between panels 12 and 14 as shown in FIG. 1 so that a floral spray (not shown) may be impaled upon element 28 as will later be referred to in more detail. To limit the penetration of holder 20 into slot 18, I have provided the circumscribing flange 30 intermediate the bottom of element 28 and the top edge 24 of base 22. Also, to provide that base 22 may be accommodated to a variety of diflerent makes of caskets where the width of slot 18 might vary, I have preferably made base 22 of a relatively rigid but resilient plastic in which there is stamped or otherwise cut the two yieldable arcuate spring flaps 32 and 34. Such flaps are designed to normally extend upwardly and outwardly from respective opposite sides of base 22 (FIG. 3) and will be movable or yielding compressible toward or into the respective openings 36 and 38, from which they are cut, as base 22 is wedged between panels 12 and 14. By this arrangement when base 22 is inserted into slot 18, the respective convex sides of flaps 32 and 34 are forced through the respective openings 36 and 38 into frictional contact with the casket panel edge at one side of slot 18 and the free edge of such flaps together with the bottom edge 26 of base 22 is wedged against the opposite panel edge and thus there is a three point area of contact between each flap and the casket panels so that it will be appreciated that base 22 will be securely supported on any casket 10 of the type shown and irrespective of whether such casket is of metal or is cloth covered. Since contact between base 22 and panels 12 and 14 is only at the adjacent panel edges within slot 18, it will also be appreciated that holder 26 will not in any way mar the finish on the casket.

The pronged element 28 is elongated in form, is provided preferably with the spiral threads 40 and includes a bullet-like blunt upper edge or nose 42. This not only facilitates the attachment of a floral spray, but is very effective in securely supporting such a spray. In this respect, while the base of a floral spray may be arranged in different ways permitting it to be impaled upon element 28, it is pointed out that the prevalent practice amongst florists in preparing casket floral sprays appears to include the use of a Styrofoam base or block (not shown) into which the flower stems are suitably mounted. In such situations, element 28 is particularly suited as a support for such sprays since the Styrofoam base can be easily and quickly impaled on element 28 and then either base 22 or the floral base rotated relative to each other so that such floral base is in effect screwably secured to element 28. Such rotation is preferable since in penetrating Styrofoams, as is well-known, a more or less smooth hole is created, and while a hole of a suitable depth would afford the support needed for the spray, the additional engagement of the threads 40 with the floral base adds a desired feature of safety.

The modified forms of this holder shown as will now be described, include the principal basic components of the item shown in FIGS. 2-4 and accordingly like components will be given like numerals primed in all modifications. Also, certain elements in the several modifications will be found to have corresponding parts and like parts therefor will also be given like numerals followed by distinguishing letters. With respect to FIGS. -8, base 22 includes only a single spring flap 44 by which opening 46 is formed and which functions the same as the flaps 32 and 34; the element 28' is generally coneshaped having its widest dimension toward base 22 and terminating at its other end in an arrowhead point 48; and the lower portion of element 28 is provided with oppositedly disposed rows of spaced notches 50.

The modified holder in FIGS. 9-11 has element 28' designed similarly to that shown in FIGS. 5-8, but base 22' is provided on one side with the respective upper and lower pairs of spaced bubbles or nodules 52 and 54 of which the upper bubbles 52 project somewhat further from base 22 than the lower pair 54 as best seen in FIG. 10. This arrangement affords the progressively increasing varying thicknesses of base 22' since the respective bubbles 54 and 52 are adaptable to any variations in slot 18 of a Gasket 10.

In FIGS. l2-l4 showing a further varied form of this holder, element 28 consists of a bullet-shaped prong and base 22' is provided on opposite sides with a wedge filler 56 which commences at approximately the vertical midpoint on such base and becomes progressively wider to its abutment with the lower extremity of element 28'.

The variation shown in FIGS. 15-17 illustrates base 22' in the form of a resilient plate bent at its center 58 to form the converging yieldable spring arms 60 and 62 that generally define a wedge element for insertion between panels 12 and 14 as above described. In other 4 respects, element 28 in this variation is similar to that shown in FIGS. 5-8 and in FIGS. 9-11.

It will be appreciated that all forms of this holder as described are similarly placed in wedging engagement between panels 12 and 14 and will support a floral spray in a similar manner. Also, as will be apparent, holder in its several forms, is light and small enough to be carried in ones hand or a pocket so that it can be always readily available for use. Its size is also such that it will be completely concealed when used and will thus not detract from the beauty of the floral arrangement. In addition, it is extremely economical to manufacture and is therefore a wholly expendable item that need not be retrieved as is economically desirable with many of the expensive holders of this type presently available. Further, and of prime importance, is the fact this holder as actually used and demonstrated has satisfied all requirements for securely holding the floral spray not only while the casket may be moved in a tilted position such as on stairways or other inclined surfaces, but also at the final cemetery services where dislodgment of the. flowers in the wind, for example, is considerably disturbing, annoying and upsetting as can well be appreciated.

It will be understood that the phraseology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not for limitation and that modifications and changes in the construction and arrangement of this invention can be made 7 within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit and purpose thereof. It is thus intended to cover by the claims, any modified forms of structure or mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. A holder for a floral spray on a casket of the type having the top enclosed by adjacent hinged head and foot panels, said holder comprising:

a vertically disposed relatively thin blade-like base member for removable frictional insertion intermediate said panels,

an upstanding floral spray supporting element carried by said base member, and

said base member including vertically spaced nodules on one side thereof with the uppermost nodule being of a greater thickness than the lowermost nodule.

2. A holder for a floral spray on a casket of the type having thetop enclosed by adjacent hinged head and foot panels, said holder comprising:

a base member for removable frictional insertion intermediate said panels,

said base member consisting of a resilient plate bent at its center to form converging compressible arm members, and

' an upstanding floral spray supporting element carried by said base member.

3. A holder for a floral spray on a casket of the type having the top enclosed by adjacent hinged head and foot panels, said holder comprising: i

a wide thin flat blade-like base member for removable frictional insertion intermediate said panels,

a resilient flap on said base member normally extending upwardly and outwardly from one side thereof and yieldingly movable towards said base member by frictional engagement with one of said panels,

an upstanding prong-like support carried by said base member, and

means on said support for engaging the base of a floral spray.

4. A holder as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for engaging a floral spray comprises spiral threads on said support.

5. A holder as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for engaging the base of a floral spray comprises a lateral projection on the upper end on said support for interlocking engagement with said base.

6. A holder as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for engaging a floral spray comprises spaced notches on said support and a lateral projection on the upper end of said support.

7. A holder for a floral spray on a casket of the type having the top enclosed by adjacent hinged head and foot panels, said holder comprising:

a wide flat base member for removable frictional insertion on the top of said casket intermediate said said base member being provided with a transverse l0 panels,

said base member being provided with an tranverse opening, a resilient arcuate flap carried by said base member in registration with said opening,

said flap normally extending outwardly from planar alignment with said base member,

one portion of said flap being frictionally engageable with one of said panels whereby said flap moves toward said opening so that another portion of said flap extends through said opening to simultaneously frictionally engage the other panel, and

an upstanding floral spray supporting element carried by said base member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,248,047 11/17 Woolley 40-22 X 3,131,897 5/64 Shelker et a1. 24827.8

FOREIGN PATENTS 941,165 11/63 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,208,701 September 28, 1965 Richard D, Erickson It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5, line 10, strike out "said base member being provided with a transverse same column 5, line 12, for "an" read a Signed and sealed this 2nd day of August 1966.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

3. A HOLDER FOR A FLORAL SPRAY ON A CASKET OF THE TYPE HAVING THE TOP ENCLOSED BY ADJACENT HINGED HEAD AND FOOT PANELS, SAID HOLDER COMPRISING: A WIDE THIN FLAT BLADE-LIKE BASE MEMBER FOR REMOVABLE FRICTIONAL INSERTION INTERMEDIATE SAID PANELS, A RESILIENT FLAP ON SAID BASE MEMBER NORMALLY EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM ONE SIDE THEREOF AND YIELDINGLY MOVABLE TOWARDS SAID BASE MEMBER B FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE OF SAID PANELS, AN UPSTANDING PRONG-LIKE SUPPORRT CARRIED BY SAID BASE MMEMBER, AND MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT FOR ENGAGING THE BASE OF A FLORAL SPRAY. 